Ok, by request, I have made this chapter verrrryyyyy long! It's not so bad either. Have fun reading!

The inside of the mansion was very big and very grand, like a mansion from a movie. Sakura felt deeply that she didn't belong in such a place like this. There was a gorgeous winding staircase in the large foyer, and a chandelier the size of a car dangling above it. Sakura was suddenly aghast, not because of the room, but because someone had just placed a hand on her shoulder. She quickly jerked her head back, hoping it was him. With a sinking feeling, she saw it wasn't, but just another member of the crew.

"You're supposed to go into the next room, just behind the staircase." He stated professionally. He quickly looked at her up and down.

"Nice dress." He said shortly. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Thanks." She finished and turned to leave. She didn't want his attention. She walked along behind the stairs as instructed and saw before her a dim hallway. At the end was an open door. She walked slowly, the red plush carpet beneath her. As she neared, she heard the quiet chatter and impatient laughing of the girls. She also heard Evie's cold voice. She didn't like that girl one bit, not at all. She was very rude, and Sakura had never been a fan of rude people. Suddenly, the happy girl appeared in the doorway and rushed at Sakura.

"There you are! I thought you got lost!" she screamed excitedly. The girl reached for her hand and viciously pulled her inside. Sakura was led to an empty green couch and sat. The happy girl sat next to her and crossed her legs. Her mouth burst into a wide smile, almost too wide for her small and delicate face.

"I'm Melanie, but my friends call me Mel." She thrust out her hand.

"I'm Sakura." Sakura took the hand and shook it lightly, trying to pretend she was as excited and happy as she.

"So what'd you think of him?" Melanie asked, scooting closer to Sakura.

"Oh, um, he's great." She stuttered, scooting a few inches back. She valued her personal space. Sakura looked up suddenly and caught Evie's evil glare. Sakura felt a chill.

"Good evening ladies!" The host sauntered in joyfully; he was standing at his side and casually ran a hand through his disarrayed hair, his gorgeous amber eyes beaming.

"Good evening." The ladies smiled sweetly, but not Sakura, she was trying to remember how to breathe. The crew had now entered the room, cameras, mics, and all, but Sakura let them disappear into the background. All she wondered was if he knew at all who she was, and what he was thinking.

"Well ladies, we have quite a night planned out for you." Lenny rubbed his hands together madly, a sly and cunning grin crossed his face. "Tonight, Syaoran will have the chance to get to know each and everyone of you." The girls looked at each excitedly, giggling a little. "Unfortunately, only fifteen of you will stay after our first elimination. The mood was suddenly cut and there was dead silence. Melanie cast Sakura a nervous glance, her mouth in a weak smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"Well, let's get to it." Syaoran smiled his adorable crooked smile, the exact same smile he had given Sakura in fourth grade. It had begun, and Sakura's world was about to flip-flop and turn inside out. Syaoran first spoke with a small group of girls: the southern girl with the poofy red hair and a quiet girl with soft eyes and a dreamy smile, Sakura could tell she was smitten with him, and she hated it. She couldn't wait until she got her chance to talk with him. She had also noticed the cameras followed him around everywhere. She hoped she wouldn't end up saying something dumb. Melanie suddenly nudged her in the stomach.

"What are you gonna say?" she asked happily. What was with this girl? Well, at least she was better than Evie, who sat with her quickly formed posse in the dimmest corner of the room. Sakura noticed one of girls was the tall girl with the bee-stung lips from the limo. She hadn't talked much.

"Oh, well, I guess I'll just be myself." She answered honestly, smiling. Melanie nodded.

"Yeah, I just hope I don't get sent home tonight, it would be so humiliating!" Sakura nodded. It would be humiliating.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours, well not really. He only had ten minutes with each group. The entire conversation wasn't filmed, just bits of it. The cameras sort of floated around, filming the rest of the girls, hunting for juicy drama. Sakura waited patiently her turn, and Melanie awaited loyally by her side. Suddenly, the moment came. Sakura felt her heart skip as Syaoran glided towards them. Then, something happened, something horrible.

"Excuse me." A sweet voice said. It was too sweet. Sakura watched helplessly as Evie suddenly slid onto the couch between Melanie and Sakura. She crossed her legs delicately and smoothed her baby blue dress.

"Good evening ladies." He smiled.

"Good evening to yourself." Evie replied teasingly, erupting into bubbly giggles. He looked at Evie for a second, than at Melanie. Finally, he looked at Sakura, and she could feel herself melt. She looked back. Their eyes were locked and Sakura told her self to breathe. She tried to read his face. He looked serious, sad, and almost, regretful. Evie cleared her voice loudly and Syaoran looked away, and Sakura caught her breath. He expertly slid in between Melanie and Evie, Sakura cut off in the corner, squished uncomfortably.

"So, how are you?" he asked politely. Melanie nodded, suddenly quiet, her face a mad blush.

"Fine." she answered simply. He nodded.

"What do you guys do?" he asked again, trying desperately to get some feedback.

"I model." Evie bragged. He laughed a little, but looked intrigued.

"Really?" he exclaimed. Evie smiled and giggled. He looked at Melanie expectantly.

"Oh, I work at a gym. I teach yoga." She answered. Sakura was certainly shocked. How could a hyper girl like her teach something so calming.

"And you?" he faced Sakura, his eyes became intense when he looked at her. Sakura smiled a weak smile.

"Well, it's nothing too impressive." She looked away from him, too embarrassed to look into his eyes.

"Go on, I won't laugh, I promise." He chuckled.

"I write a recipes column for a newspaper." She sighed. He broke his promise and laughed.

"A recipes column? What is that? I don't think I've ever heard of that!" he exclaimed, his eyes suddenly bright again. Sakura only smiled.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh!" she teased. Evie looked uncomfortable with all the attention he was giving Sakura.

"How much does that pay?" Evie questioned innocently, but Sakura could see the ice in her eyes.

"What's your last name?" Syaoran suddenly asked, completely cutting off Evie. He was still looking at Sakura, his gaze confused, like she was a puzzle that he just couldn't figure out. Maybe he does remember me.

"Kino…" she began, but was suddenly interrupted.

"Time's up ladies, I have to take him away now." Lenny appeared to fetch Syaoran away.

"He has important decisions to make." The almost-annoying host winked and walked away.

"Duty calls." He said smoothly, casting one more glance at Sakura.

"Good luck!" Evie called, but he was already gone. She slumped back in the chair and sighed disappointingly, angry she wasn't the center of attention. Wordlessly, she got up and skulked back over to her corner, where she was joined by her new followers.

"What is her problem?" Melanie piped up, twisting a strand of her light brown hair around her stubby finger. Sakura shrugged.

"I don't know."

"He gave you a lot of attention." She sighed, almost enviously. Sakura shrugged again.

"I don't know, he was making fun of me though."

"Yeah, but it was like he almost knew you." She finished, her brown eyes bugging out of her head.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, I guess it was the way he was looking at you." Her darted back and forth and finally settled on a spot somewhere on the ceiling.

"I've never met him." Sakura lied.

"Good, 'cause that's against the rules." Melanie breathed, still looking at the ceiling.

"What do you mean?" Melanie looked at Sakura earnestly and shrugged.

"I don't know, I guess because it would effect the outcome of the show."

"What would happen if I did know him?"

"Well," she leaned in real close and whispered, "I guess you'd get kicked off." Sakura only nodded and crossed her arms. Uh-oh.

"Ladies, it's time." Lenny walked into the small room that they had been herded into only a few minutes ago. The floor was marble, and there was a small table with a pile of small paper hearts. This was it: elimination time. 25 girls came in and only 15 girls would stay in. 10 girls would humiliatingly return home in defeat. Sakura hoped that she wouldn't be one of them. Syaoran walked in, his serious face turned bright.

"Good evening."

"Good evening." Some girls mumbled back, wanting to stay in his good graces.

"Syaoran, you know the rules, why don't you explain to the ladies." Lenny said encouragingly.

"Well, see, I have 25 beautiful ladies in front of me, each beautiful in her own way." Sakura couldn't help but smile, he had always been a gentleman.

"Unfortunately, I only have 15 hearts." He suddenly looked very sad, and in a way, Sakura felt for him, knowing how hard it must be to make a decision like this so soon.

"Well, it was very hard to make a decision, but I think I've chosen wisely." He glanced over at Lenny, who gave him a nod of approval.

"Ladies," Lenny began, "If you do not receive a heart tonight, I'm afraid you will have to return home." With that, it began. Syaoran bent over a little to grab a heart and felt it in his hands. He took a deep breath.

"Lucy." He said. Sakura watched as the southern girl walked down towards him.

"Lucy, will you take this piece of my heart?" he asked.

"Yes!"she exclaimed happily. She took the heart and walked back up to her place in line. After that, it was all a blur. Sakura was deep in her thoughts as girl after girl went up to receive her heart. She noticed that bee-stung lip girl, whose actual name was Lana had gotten a heart, followed by the quiet girl with the soft eyes, whose name was Andie. After the 10th heart was given away, her name was called.

"Evie." She smiled and sauntered towards him, her model walk in full swing.

"Evie, will you take this piece of my heart." She giggled and touched his arm.

"Of course I will." She took it and walked back towards the line. She glanced over at Sakura and held up her heart victoriously. Melanie received the 13th heart. There were two left, and Sakura was beginning to lose hope. Maybe it wasn't meant to be.

"Patricia." Sakura watched in pain as another girl walked up to claim her prize. Lenny walked up beside Syaoran and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"There is one heart left. If you do not receive a heart tonight, you must leave." He repeated. Sakura couldn't hear him. Please, please, please, please! She pleaded as he picked up the final heart. She was sweating now, and thinking if she went home, Tomoyo was going to die.

"Sakura." He said finally. Sakura's head snapped up.

"Go that's you." Melanie whispered excitedly. Sakura's heart was on fire and her mouth went dry as she stumbled towards him. He looked at her intensely, his eyes burning.

"Will you except this piece of my heart?" he asked hopefully.

"That's really corny." She found herself mumbling. He gave a little chuckle.

"Just take it please." He whispered, smiling now. Sakura took it and walked back, breathing deeply. When she got back, she found Evie staring unbelievingly. Sakura waved her heart happily, enjoying watching the dread on her face grow.

"Ladies, thank you for joining us." Lenny said quietly. The ten dismissed girls left, hugging and saying their good byes. Then, they left, leaving 15 girls for round two. Just like that, it was over. But it was only the beginning.

WEEEEEEE! That was long, hope you enjoyed it!